Container seal and opening means



May 18, 1965 w. E. CHEELEY CONTAINER SEAL AND OPENING MEANS s Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Oct. 4, 1961 58 FIG-l FiG-6 FG'5 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM E. CHEELEY VI E N R w /A 5 H 8 3 k 6 h 8 G F May 18, 1965 W. E. CHEELEY CONTAINER SEAL AND OPENING MEANS Filed Oct. 4. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-9 FIG no L360 K60 7 24 370 R m ,\7\\z 27 I INVENTO WILLIAM E. CHEE L i 360 I |-us ATTORNEY;

ay 1965 w. E. CHEELEY 3,184,096

CONTAINER SEAL AND OPENING MEANS Filed Oct. 4, 1961' r 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l I l b 28 b 2913 77 77 7 74 ,22

I, I I I I I I I ,1,

V/ INVENTOR.

WILLiAM E. CHEELEY HIS ATTORN EYS FIG-I6 United States Patent 3,184,096 CGNTAINER SEAL AND GPENING MEANS William E. Cheeley, Chesterfield (County, Va., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Via, a corporation of Delaware Filed 0st. 4, 1961, Ser. No. 142,962 11 Claims, (Cl. 226-45) This invention relates to an improved container and the like having improved opening means. This invention also relates to improved methods and apparatus for making such container or the like.

Many different means have heretofore been provided in containers or the like to readily permit the ultimate consumers to open the containers to dispense the product packaged therein.

However, because certain products must be substantially hermetically sealed in the containers to prevent product spoilage, flavor loss and the like, great difficulty has been encountered in forming an opening means for the containers that will not only permit the products to be hermetically sealed therein, but that will also readily permit the ultimate consumer to open the same when desired.

One such prior known container is formed of metal and has a tear portion or strip formed by scoring the appropriate wall of the container around the perimeter of the tear portion or strip so that the tear portion or strip can be subsequently removed from the container by Winding the tear strip or portion on a key or the like.

Not only is such opening operation time consuming, but also the removed tear portion or strip has sharp edges that may readily cut the ultimate consumer if not handled properly.

Further, such removed tear portion or strip cannot be utilized to reclose the container when desired.

According to the teachings of this invention, however, an improved opening means is provided that will not only permit hermetic sealing of the product within the container, but also will permit ready opening of the container in a simple manner and eliminate certain of the disadvantages of the prior-known tear portions or strips.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved container or the like having one or more of the novel features of this invention as set forth above and hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for making such a container or the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved method for making such a container or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one of the containers of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the container illustrated in FIGURE 1 and is taken on line 2-2 thereof.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of a corner of the container illustrated in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, perspective view illustrating the manner of initially opening the container of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 and illustrates the container of FIGURE 1 in its fully opened condition.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating another embodiment of the handle means of the container of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view illustrating the pro-cut Patented May 18;, 1965 end closure blank utilized in forming the container of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating one embodiment of the apparatus of this invention for forming the end closure of the container of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the apparatus of this invention, the apparatus being illustrated in one of the operating positions thereof.

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 9 and illustrates the apparatus in another operating position thereof.

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 9 and illustrates the apparatus in still another opcratiru position thereof.

FIGURE 12 is an axial cross-sectional view of another end closure of this invention.

FIGURE 13 is a reduced, top plan view of the end closure illustrated in FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 14 is a view similar to FIGURE 13 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 15 is a View similar to FIGURE 9 and illustrates another apparatus and end closure of this invention.

FIGURE 16 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view illustrating another container of this invention utilizing the end closure of FIGURE 15.

While the various features of this invention relate to an opening means formed in a wall of an end closure of a container or the like, it is to be understood that the opening means of this invention can be placed in any other wall of the container or the like, as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments thereof illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the Wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, an improved container of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 and comprises a substantially cylindrical container body 21 having the opposed open ends thereof respectively closed by end closures 22 and 23, the end closure 22 having the improved opening means of this invention.

The opening means for the end closure 22 of the container 24) comprises a substantially circular insert 24 disposed in a substantially circular opening 25', FIGURES 4 and 5, formed in the wall 26 of the end closure 22 in a manner hereinafter described. The outer peripheral edge 27, FIGURES 2 and 3, of the insert 24 is interconnected to the inner peripheral edge 28 of the wall 26 of the end closure 22 by a substantially continuous sealing means 29 in a manner hereinafter described. The sealing means 29 is permanently interconnected to the outer peripheral edge 27 of the IIISTL 24 and detachably secured to the inner peripheral edge 28 of the wall 26 of the end closure 22 while initially hermetically sealing the insert 24 in the opening 25 of the end closure 22 so that the desired product 30 can be initially hermetically sealed in the container 20.

A handle means 31 has one end 32 thereof integrally interconnected to the continuous sealing means 29 and the other end 33 thereof substantially enlarged and disposed on the exterior surface of the insert 24.

When it is desired to initially open the container 2%, the ultimate consumer merely grasps the free end 33 of the handle means 31 and, in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4, pulls the handle means 31 away from the container 2% whereby the sealing means 29 pulls away from the wall as of the end closure 22 and remains secured to the isnert 24 so that the insert 24 is carried away from the container 20 with the sealing means 29 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5 to fully open the container 2t After part of the product 39 has been dispensed through the opening 25 in the container 20, the sealing means 29 and interconnected insert 24 can be utilized to reclose the container in a manner hereinafter described.

Therefore, it can be seen that the sealing means 29 and insert 24 are adapted to initially hermetically close the opening 25 in the end closure 22 so that the product packaged in the container 20 can be hermetically sealed therein. When it is desired to open the container 20, the handle means 31 is merely pulled upwardly away from the container 20 whereby the sealing means 29 and insert 24 are removed in unison therefrom. Thus, no cumbersome and time-consuming key-winding operation is required as in the prior art. Further, because the sealing means 29 remains substantially permanently secured to the outer peripheral edge 27 of the insert 24, no sharp edges are provided by the removed insert 24 which would tend to cut the ultimate consumer as in the prior known tear portions and tear strips.

While the sealing means 29 and insert 24 can be initially secured in the opening 25 of the end closure 22 in any desired manner, one method and apparatus of this invention is illustrated in FIGURE 8 and is generally indicated by the reference numeral 34.

The apparatus 34 comprises a first die member 35 formed from two parts 36 and 37 suitably secured together by aligning pins 38 and bolts 38, as illustrated.

The first die member 35 has a surface 39 interrupted by a substantially continuous groove 40 having a substantially semi-circular cross-sectional configuration. The surface 39 of the die member 35 is surrounded by, an outwardly extending annular flange 41.

The apparatus 34 also comprises a second die member 42 having a central projection 43 extending outwardly from an inner surface 44 thereof, the projection 43 having an exterior surface 45 interrupted by a continuous groove 46 that is adapted to mate with the groove 40 of the die member 35 when the die members 35 and 42 are assembled together in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 8.

When the die members 35 and 42 are assembled together in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 8, the projection 43 of the die member 42 cooperates with the flange 41 of the die member 35 to define an annular chamber 47 therewith for a purpose hereinafter described.

The die member 42 has a passage means 48 centrally interrupting the end surface 45 of the projection 43 thereof and is interconnected to an appropriately shaped recess 49 formed in the end surface 45 to shape the bandle means 31 previously described and to interconnect the passage means 48 to the mating grooves 46 and 40 of the die members 42 and 35.

The end closure 22 is formed from a blank 58, FIG- URE 7, which is utilized in the apparatus 34, the apparatus 34 securing the insert 24 and sealing means 29 in the opening 25 of the end closure 22.

In particular, the end closure blank 50 comprises a substantially circular'flat wall 26 bounded by a flange structure 51 having a reversely turned free end 52, FIG- URE 8, and an upstanding end 53 integrally interconnecting the flange 51 to the wall 26.

Prior to insertion of the end closure blank 50 in the apparatus 34, suitable stamping apparatus (not shown) is utilized to cut the circular insert 24 from the wall 26. Preferably, such cutting operation does not entirely separate the insert 24 from the wall 26 but forms breakable tabs 54 integrally interconnecting the outer peripheral edge 27 of the insert 24 to the inner peripheral edge 28 of the remaining portion of the wall 26 at spaced points around the periphery of the insert 24 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 7. ,In this manner, a substantially continuous annular slot'means 55 is. defined between the outer peripheral edge'27 of the insert 24 and the inner peripheral edge 28 of the wall 26.

During such forming operation of the insert 24, it is preferred that the outer peripheral edge 27 of the insert 24 is bent downwardly relative to the inner peripheral edge 28 of the wall 26 in the manner illustrated in FIG- URES 2, 3 and 8 for a purpose hereinafter described.

Therefore, it can be seen that the insert 24 can be formed directly from the end closure blank 56) and retained temporarily in the opening 25 thereof by the very narrow breakable tab means 54.

After the blank 50 has been pre-formed by cutting the insert 24, the cut end closure blank 50 is placed on the surface 39 of the first die member 35 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 8 whereby the peripheral edges 27 and 28 of the insert 24 and wall 26 are disposed adjacent the groove 48 in the die member 35.

Thereafter, the die member 42 is lowered against the exterior surface of the end closure blank 50 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 8 whereby the continuous groove 46 of the die member 42 is disposed adjacent the peripheral edges 27 and 28 of the insert 24 and wall 26 while the flange structure 51 of the end closure blank 50 is disposed in the aforementioned chamber 47.

Subsequently, the sealing means 29 is forced downwardly under pressure through the passage means 48 in the die member 42 whereby the sealing means 29 flows along the reces 49 to the groove 46 of the die member 42 and is forcedthrough the slot means 55 between the insert 24 and wall 26 or" the end closure blank 50 to interconnect the outer peripheral edge 27 to the insert 24 to the inner peripheral edge 28 of the wall 26 while filling the groove 46 of the die member 35.

While any suitable sealing means can be utilized, one embodiment thereof comprises polyethylene, the polyethylene being heated to approximately 275 to 300 F. to render the same relatively plastic and being placed under several tons of pressure in the apparatus 34 so that the sealing means 29 will be compacted against the exterior and interior surfaces of the insert 24 and wall 26 at the peripheral edges 27 and 28 thereof in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 8.

Because the polyethylene or sealing means 29 does not bond to the metal end closure blank 50, the same is merely placed under compression between the peripheral edges 27 and 28 of the insert 24 and wall 26 so that a substantially hermetic seal is created between the insert 24 and wall 26 when the polyethylene subsequently hardens.

After the polyethylene or sealing means 29 solidifies, the die member 42 is moved away from the die member F5 so that the end closure blank 50 can be removed thererom.

The completed end closure blank 50 is subsequently spun on the desired open end of the container body 21 v means does not adhere to the end closure blank 50, the

handle means 31 is adapted to be readily pulled upwardly from the exterior surface of the insert 24 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4, when desired.

While the enlarged portion 57 of the recess 49 of the die member 42 is illustrated as form-ing a substantially flat free end 33 of the handle means 31, the enlarged portion 57 of the recess 49 can be shaped in any desired configuration. T

For example, the enlarged free end 33 of the handle means 31 could be shaped in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6 whereby the exterior surface of the enlarged end 33a of the handle means 31a is substantially rounded and has a plurality of transversely disposed ribs 58 formed thereon to provide frictional means to facilitate grasping of the ame and pulling the insert 24 and sealing means 29 from the opening 25 in the end closure 22.

While the insert 24 of the end closure blank St has been illustrated as being interconnected to the remaining portion of the blank 59 by the breakable tab means 54, the breakable tab means 54 do not impede the initial opening operation of the desired container because the tab means 54 readily break when the insert 24 and sealing means 29 are pulled relative to the container 2%.

The reason why the sealing means 29 readily sepa rates from the inner peripheral edge 23 of the Wall as of the end closure 22 when the handle means 31 is pulled relative to the container 20, is because the sealing means 29 is not adhered thereto but is merely compressed between the peripheral edges 27 and 28 of the insert 24 and wall 26 to provide the aforementioned hermetic sealing relationship. However, the sealing means 29 is readily deformable so that the continuous sealing means 29 can be easily pulled from the slot means 55 of the end closure 22. The continuous sealing means 29 is not readily separable from the insert 24 because of the hooking action provided by the bent peripheral edge 27 of the insert 24, whereby the insert 24 is removed in unison with the continuous sealing means 29.

While the end closure blank 5%) is illustrated as having the insert 24 interconnected thereto by the breakable tab means 54, the reason for providing the tab means 545 is to properly locate the insert 24 relative to the remaining portion of the end closure blank 5d when the same is placed in the apparatus 34 to eliminate manufacturing steps.

However, it is to be understood that the insert 24 could be completely separated from the end closure blank 50 before the same are placed in the apparatus 34 because the insert 24 and the remaining portion of the end clo sure blank 50 could be separately placed in the apparatus 34 if desired.

Further, the apparatus 34 could be so constructed and arranged that the same is adapted to break the tab means 54 before the sealing means 22 is injected through the die member 42.

Alternately, the apparatus of this inventoin could be so constructed and arranged that the molding apparatus is also adapted to cut the insert 24 from the end closure blank 59 rather than requiring a separate cutting step as illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8.

In particular, another apparatus of this invention is generally indicated in FIGURES 91l by the reference numeral 6% and comprises a first die member or and a second die member 62.

The die members 61 and 62 are substantially identical to the die members and 42 previously described whereby like parts are desi nated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter (2.

However, the die member 62- comprises a pair of parts 63 and 64 interconnected together by bolts 65 and are so constructed and arranged that the same define an annular chamber as therebetween.

An annular piston member 67 is disposed in the chamber 66 and carries an annular cutting member 63 which is received in an annular passage 69 disposed between the parts 63 and d4 of the die member ea, the annular passage 69 being interconnected with the continuous groove 46a of the die member 62.

A compression spring '70 is disposed in the annular compartment 66 and has one end 71 thereof abutting against the member 63 and the other end 72 thereof abuting against the annular piston 67 whereby the spring 7d normally tends to hold the cutting end 73 of the annular cutter 68 out of the groove 46a.

With the cutter 68 disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 9, the uncut end closure blank 56 is placed in the die apparatus 6% in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 9 whereby the die members 61 and 62 are brought together in any desired manner.

Thereafter, fluid under pressure is delivered to the upper end of the compartment 66 by a suitable conduit means 74 whereby the force of the pressure fluid acts against the upper surface of the piston 67 to move the piston 67 downwardly in opposition to the force of the spring ill whereby the cutter 68 is moved downwardly therewith and completely cuts the insert 24 from the end closure blank 5' 3 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 10.

Thereafter, the fluid pressure in the upper end of the compartment es of the die member 62 is expelled in any desired manner whereby the force of the compression spring itl returns the annular cutter 68 to the position illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 11. Subsequently, the sealing means 29 can be injected through the die member 62 to interconnect the insert 24 to the wall 26 of the end closure blank St; in the manner previously described as well as to form the handle means '31 thereof.

Therefore, it can be seen that the die apparatus 69 is not only adapted to form the insert 24 in the end closure blank 5% but is also adapted to dispose the sealing means 23 between the insert 24 and wall 26 of the end closure blank Stl to hermetically seal the insert 24 in the opening 25 in the end closure 22.

While the removed sealing means 29 and insert 24 of the container 25 can be replaced in the opening 25 of the end closure 22 to recluse the container 22 after the same has been initially opened in the manner previously described, the configuration of the sealing means 29 as illustrated in FIGURE 3 does not readily lend itself to such reclosing of the container 26.

Therefore, another embodiment of the end closure of this invention is illustrated in FIGURE 12 and is gen erally indicated by the reference numeral 22b, the end closure 22b comprising an insert 24b secured in an open ing formed in the wall 26b of the remaining portion of the end closure 2211 by the continuous sealing means 29]).

The under surface or" the sealing means 2% of the end closure 2% is provided with a beveled or camming surface '74 which is adapted to readily project through the opening in the wall 265 of the end closure 2% when the sealing means 2% and insert 2412 are utilized to reclose a container carrying the end closure 2211. In this manner, the leading edge 75 of the beveled surface 74 clears the inner peripheral edge 28b of the wall 26b when partially inserted therein so that the surface 74 of the sealing means 291; will cam against the peripheral edge 28:) of the wall 26b to guide the sealing means 2% in place whereby the inner peripheral edge 28b of the Wall 26b will be subsequently received in the notch or annular groove 76 formed in the sealing means 2% when the continuous sealing means 2% is initially formed to interconnect the insert 24b to the wall 26b.

Therefore, it can be seen that the structure of the sealing means 2% readily permits the insert 245 and sealing means Zib to reclose the end closure 2217, when desired. Because the sealing means 2% is compressed against the inner peripheral edge 28b of the wall 261: when the sealing means 2% and insert 241) are being utilized to reclose the end closure 22b, a substantially hermetic seal is again provided between the insert 24b and the Wall Zeb of the end closure 225.

While the sealing means 2% of the end closure 22b of FIGURE 12 can have any desired handle means interconnected thereto to facilitate removal of the sealing means 2% and insert 24]; in the above manner, the embodiment of the end closure 24!) includes a handle means 78 that extends completely across the insert 241) and has a pair of opposed ends T7 integrally interconnected to the continuous sealing means 2% at diametrically opposed points on the insert 2 51 Preferably, the handle means T58 has a substantially S-shaped con iguration as illustrated in FIGURE 13 to facilitate grasping of the same.

if desired, the handle means for the end closure 2212 or the end closures 22 previously described could be formed in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 14 whereby the handle means '78 has one end 79 thereof integrally interconnected to the continuous sealing means 290 and the other end 8% thereof enlarged and provided with an aperture 81 passing therethrough and of a size accessible to receive a finger of the human hand. In this manner, the ultimate consumer can insert a finger in the opening 81 of the enlarged end 80 of the handle means 78 to pull the sealing means 290 and insert 24c from the end closure 220.

Another container of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 82 in FIGURE 16 and comprises a container body 21d having an end closure 22d secured to one of the opened ends thereof, the end closure 22d having an opening means substantially similar to the opening means provided in the end closure 22b of FIGURE 12.

In particular, the insert 24d is interconnected to the inner peripheral edge 28d of the wall 26d of the end closure 22d by a continuous sealing means 29d, the sealing means 29d having an under surface provided with a beveled or camming surface 74d to facilitate reclosing of the container 82 in the same manner as the end closure 22b of FIGURE 12.

In addition, an annular ring 83 of sealing means extends along the under surface of the wall 26d of the end closure 22d and along part of the flange 51d thereof in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 16 so that the ring 83 of sealing means is disposed between the turned flange 56d of the container body 21d to effect hermetic sealing between the end closure 22d and the container body 21d without auxiliary sealing means when the end closure 22d and container body 21d are crimped together.

The annular ring 83 of sealing means is interconnected to the continuous sealing means 29d at a point adjacent the inner peripheral edge 28d of the wall 26d. To facilitate separation of the continuous sealing means 29d from the ring 83 when the container 82 is initially opened, an annular groove 84 is formed in the sealing means adjacent the ring 83 and the continuous sealing means 29a in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 16 so that upon initial opening of the container 82 the ring 83 will readily break away from the sealing means 2% when the sealing means 29d and insert 24d are removed from the end closure 22d in the above manner.

Thereafter, the interconnected sealing means 29a and insert 24d can be utilized to reclose the container 82 in the same manner as illustrated in FIGURE 12.

The apparatus for making the end closure 22d of FIG- URE 16 is illustrated in FIGURE 15 and comprises a pair of die members 85 and 36 formed in a manner similar to the other die members of this invention except that the die member 85 has an annular recess 87 formed beyond the annular groove 40d to receive the sealing means to form the aforementioned ring 83. A projection 88 is disposed between the recesses 40d and 87 of the die member 85 to form'the aforementioned groove 84.

Therefore, it can be seen that various improved opening means of this invention are provided for containers or the like wherein the opening means are substantially hermetically sealed in the openings provided in the Walls of the containers and the like and can be readily opened without utilizing cumbersome and time-consuming key-wending operations and the like.

Furthenwhile the opening means of this invention are illustrated as being formed in end closures of containers and the like, it is to be understood that the opening means of this invention could be formed in other walls of the container or the like by theniethods and apparatus of this invention. 7

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a container having a wall, said wall having an opening bounded by an inner peripheral edge of said wall, an insert disposed in said opening and having an outer peripheral edge spaced from said peripheral edge of said wall, a continuous sealing means detachably secured to said inner peripheral edge of said wall and permanently secured to said outer peripheral edge of said insert to seal said insert in said opening, and handle means having one end interconnected to said sealing means and extending at least partly across said insert to provide means for pulling said sealing means and said insert from said container.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said handle means has a free end disposed on the medial portion of said insert.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said handle means has an enlarged free end disposed on said insert and provided with an aperture passing therethrough to receive a finger of the human hand.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said handle means extends completely across said insert and has the other end thereof interconnected to said sealing means.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said handle means extends completely across said insert and has the other end thereof interconnected to said sealing means, said handle means having a substantially S-shaped configuration.

6. In combination, a container having a wall, said wall having an opening bounded by an inner peripheral edge of said wall, an insert disposed in said opening and having an outer peripheral edge spaced from said peripheral edge of said wall, and a continuous sealing means detachably secured to said inner peripheral edge of said wall and permanently secured to said outer peripheral edge of said insert to seal said insert in said opening.

7. In combination, a container having a wall, said wall having an opening bounded by an inner peripheral edge of said wall, an insert disposed in said opening and having an outer peripheraledge spaced from said peripheral edge of said wall, breakable tab means integrally interconnecting said outer peripheral edge of said insert to said inner peripheral edge of said Wall to hold said insert in said opening, and a continuous sealing means detachably secured to said inner peripheral edge of said wall and permanently secured to said outer peripheral edge of said insert to seal said insert in said opening.

8. In combination, a container having a wall, said wall having an exterior surface and an interior surface and having an opening bounded by an inner peripheral edge of said wall, an insert disposed in said opening and having an exterior surface and an interior surface, said insert having an outer peripheral edge disposed spaced from said inner peripheral edge of said wall to define a substantially continuous slot means therewith, and sealing means dis-.

posed in said slot means and engaging said exterior and interior surfaces of said wall and said insert at said peripheral edge thereof to seal said insert in said opening.

9. In combination, an end closure for a container or the like and having a wall, said wall having a circular opening provided therein and bounded by an inner peripheral edge of said wall, a substantially circular insert disposed in said opening and having an outer peripheral edge spaced from the peripheral edge of said wall, and a continuous sealing means detachably secured to said inner peripheral edge of said wall and permanently secured to said outer peripheral edge of said insert to seal said insert in said opening.

1 10. A combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said wall has an exterior surface and an interior surface and has an outer flange for securing said end closure to a container body or the like, and wherein said sealing means extends along said interior surface of said wall and flange wall has an annular groove provided therein adjacent said 5 inner peripheral surface.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/09 Larkin 29416 11/36 Duffy.

5/38 Gantzer 53-329 10 Vincent.

Punte 220-47 Baker 22046 Wysoeki 53329 Barr 220-46 Biedenstein 22027 Nelson 29-416 Hutchinson 220-47 10 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

EARLE J. DRUMMOND, GEORGE O. RALSTON,

Examiners. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A CONTAINER HAVING A WALL, SAID WALL HAVING AN OPENING BOUNDED BY AN INNER PERIPHERAL EDGE OF SAID WALL, AN INSERT DISPOSED IN SAID OPENING AND HAVING AN OUTER PERIPHERAL EDGE SPACED FROM SAID PERIPHERAL EDGE OF SAID WALL, A CONTINUOUS SEALING MEANS DETACHABLY SECURED TO SAID INNER PERIPHERAL EDGE OF SAID WALL AND PERMANENTLY SECURED TO SAID OUTER PERIPHERAL EDGE OF SAID INSERT TO SEAL SAID INSERT IN SAID OPENING, AND HANDLE MEANS HAVING ONE END INTERCONNECTED TO SAID SEALING MEANS AND EXTENDING AT LEAST PARTLY ACROSS SAID INSERT TO PROVIDE MEANS FOR PULLING SAID SEALING MEANS AND SAID INSERT FROM SAID CONTAINER. 